This report presents the findings of Together for Sooke, a pilot project that tested whether a structured facilitation method called presencing could support more productive civic conversation in a small community navigating rapid growth, climate planning, and local conflict.
Through six small-group dialogues with Sooke residents, the pilot found that presencing produced a deeper kind of conversation in which participants surfaced values, fears, and shared aspirations, though a single 75-minute session could not measurably reduce affective polarization or move participants toward concrete solutions.
The report offers lessons for governance, planning, and civic engagement, and includes a facilitation guide for practitioners seeking to adapt the method in other communities and contexts.
